(ST. GEORGE, Utah) - (+VIDEO) Justice, mercy, vengeance, sex and politics--sounds like topics in our typical diet of nightly newscasts. R. Scott Phillips, director of the Shakespearean Festival, said the stories with these themes in Shakespeare's time are just as topical for 2014 audiences.

Phillips said, "The interesting thing about Shakespeare and the reason he is still relevant to us today, is because he spoke so strongly to the human condition. All of those things such as: love, jealousy, betrayal, family, mistrust--those haven't changed in over 400 years, and Shakespeare was able to capture that."

The Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City will kick off the 2014 season on June 23 with a variety of plays to choose from. This summer's Shakespeare plays are: "Henry IV", which is part of the 'History Cycle'; "Measure for Measure", a lesser known play with the 'Complete the Canon' project; and "The Comedy of Errors" set in the 1849 California Gold Rush. "Twelfth Night" can be seen during both the summer and fall schedule. These plays are available to be seen in the Adams Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, England.

A world premiere of a new stage adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" will play this summer, directed and written by Joseph Hanreddy. His co-author is J.R. Sullivan. Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods" will also be featured this summer in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. The fall season will have "Boeing Boeing" and "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure" as future plays to look forward to.

Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington County residents receive a half-price discount on available seats on the day of the performance, Mondays through Thursdays. The box office opens at 10 a.m. Call today: 800-PLAYTIX (800.752.9849) or visit the website at: www.bard.org

(ST. GEORGE, Utah) - (+VIDEO) Justice, mercy, vengeance, sex and politics--sounds like topics in our typical diet of nightly newscasts. R. Scott Phillips, director of the Shakespearean Festival, said the stories with these themes in Shakespeare's time are just as topical for 2014 audiences.

Phillips said, "The interesting thing about Shakespeare and the reason he is still relevant to us today, is because he spoke so strongly to the human condition. All of those things such as: love, jealousy, betrayal, family, mistrust--those haven't changed in over 400 years, and Shakespeare was able to capture that."

The Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City will kick off the 2014 season on June 23 with a variety of plays to choose from. This summer's Shakespeare plays are: "Henry IV", which is part of the 'History Cycle'; "Measure for Measure", a lesser known play with the 'Complete the Canon' project; and "The Comedy of Errors" set in the 1849 California Gold Rush. "Twelfth Night" can be seen during both the summer and fall schedule. These plays are available to be seen in the Adams Theatre, a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London, England.

A world premiere of a new stage adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" will play this summer, directed and written by Joseph Hanreddy. His co-author is J.R. Sullivan. Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods" will also be featured this summer in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. The fall season will have "Boeing Boeing" and "Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure" as future plays to look forward to.

Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane and Washington County residents receive a half-price discount on available seats on the day of the performance, Mondays through Thursdays. The box office opens at 10 a.m. Call today: 800-PLAYTIX (800.752.9849) or visit the website at: www.bard.org